Pinpointing a pulsar in its parent supernova remnant (SNR) or resulting pulsar wind nebula (PWN) is key to understanding its formation history and the pulsar wind mechanism, yet only about half the ...SNRs and PWNe appear associated with a pulsar. Our aim was to find the pulsars in a sample of eight known and new SNRs and PWNe. Using the LOFAR radio telescope at 150 MHz, each source was observed for 3 h. We covered the entire remnants where needed, by employing many tied-array beams to tile out even the largest objects. For objects with a confirmed point source or PWN we constrained our search to those lines of sight. We identified a promising radio pulsar candidate towards PWN G141.2+5.0. The candidate, PSR J0337+61, has a period of 94 ms and a DM of 226 pc cm−3. We re-observed the source twice with increased sensitivities of 30% and 50%, but did not re-detect it. It thus remains unconfirmed. For our other sources we obtain very stringent upper limits of 0.8 − 3.1 mJy at 150 MHz. Generally, we can rule out that the pulsars travelled out of the remnant. From these strict limits we conclude our non-detections towards point sources and PWNe are the result of beaming and propagation effects. Some of the remaining SNRs should host a black hole rather than a neutron star.
Young pulsars and the pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) or supernova remnants (SNRs) that surround them are some of the most dynamic and high-powered environments in our Universe. With the rise of more ...sensitive observations, the number of pulsar-SNR and PWN associations (hereafter, SNR/PWN) has increased, yet we do not understand to which extent this environment influences the pulsars’ impulsive radio signals. We studied the dispersive contribution of SNRs and PWNe on Galactic pulsars, and considered their relevance to fast radio bursts (FRBs) such as FRB 121102. We investigated the dispersion measure (DM) contribution of SNRs and PWNe by comparing the measured DMs of Galactic pulsars in a SNR/PWN to the DM expected only from the intervening interstellar electrons, using the NE2001 model. We find that a two-
σ
DM contribution of SNRs and PWNe to the pulsar signal exists, amounting to 21.1 ± 10.6 pc cm
−3
. The control sample of pulsars unassociated with a SNR/PWN shows no excess. We model the SNR and PWN electron densities for each young pulsar in our sample and show that these indeed predict an excess of this magnitude. By extrapolating to the kind of fast-spinning, high magnetic field, young pulsars that may power FRBs, we show their SNR and PWN are capable of significantly contributing to the observed DM.
Abstract
We present broadband X-ray spectroscopy of the energetic components that make up the supernova remnant (SNR) Kesteven 75 using concurrent 2017 August 17–20 XMM-Newton and NuSTAR ...observations, during which the pulsar PSR J1846−0258 is found to be in the quiescent state. The young remnant hosts a bright pulsar wind nebula powered by the highly energetic (
erg s
−1
) isolated, rotation-powered pulsar, with a spin-down age of only
. Its inferred magnetic field (
B
s
= 4.9 × 10
13
G) is the largest known for these objects, and is likely responsible for intervals of flare and burst activity, suggesting a transition between/to a magnetar state. The pulsed emission from PSR J1846−0258 is well-characterized in the 2–50 keV range by a power-law model with photon index Γ
PSR
= 1.24 ± 0.09 and a 2–10 keV unabsorbed flux of (2.3 ± 0.4) × 10
−12
erg s
−1
cm
−2
. We find no evidence for an additional non-thermal component above 10 keV in the current state, as would be typical for a magnetar. Compared to the Chandra pulsar spectrum, the intrinsic pulsed fraction is 71 ± 16% in 2–10 keV band. A power-law spectrum for the pulsar wind nebulae (PWN) yields Γ
PWN
= 2.03 ± 0.02 in the 1–55 keV band, with no evidence of curvature in this range, and a 2–10 keV unabsorbed flux (2.13 ± 0.02) × 10
−11
erg s
−1
cm
−2
. The NuSTAR data reveal evidence for a hard X-ray component dominating the SNR spectrum above 10 keV that we attribute to a dust-scattered PWN component. We model the dynamical and radiative evolution of the Kes 75 system to estimate the birth properties of the neutron star, the energetics of its progenitor, and properties of the PWN. This suggests that the progenitor of Kes 75 was originally in a binary system which transferred most of its mass to a companion before exploding.
ABSTRACT
We report the detection of a bright fast radio burst, FRB 191108, with Apertif on the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope. The interferometer allows us to localize the FRB to a narrow 5 ...arcsec × 7 arcmin ellipse by employing both multibeam information within the Apertif phased-array feed beam pattern, and across different tied-array beams. The resulting sightline passes close to Local Group galaxy M33, with an impact parameter of only 18 kpc with respect to the core. It also traverses the much larger circumgalactic medium (CGM) of M31, the Andromeda Galaxy. We find that the shared plasma of the Local Group galaxies could contribute ∼10 per cent of its dispersion measure of 588 pc cm−3. FRB 191108 has a Faraday rotation measure (RM) of +474 $\pm \, 3$ rad m−2, which is too large to be explained by either the Milky Way or the intergalactic medium. Based on the more moderate RMs of other extragalactic sources that traverse the halo of M33, we conclude that the dense magnetized plasma resides in the host galaxy. The FRB exhibits frequency structure on two scales, one that is consistent with quenched Galactic scintillation and broader spectral structure with Δν ≈ 40 MHz. If the latter is due to scattering in the shared M33/M31 CGM, our results constrain the Local Group plasma environment. We found no accompanying persistent radio sources in the Apertif imaging survey data.
Context. Oxygen sequence Wolf-Rayet (WO) stars are a very rare stage in the evolution of massive stars. Their spectra show strong emission lines of helium-burning products, in particular highly ...ionized carbon and oxygen. The properties of WO stars can be used to provide unique constraints on the (post-)helium burning evolution of massive stars, and their remaining lifetimes and the expected properties of their supernovae. Aims. We aim to homogeneously analyze the currently known presumed-single WO stars to obtain the key stellar and outflow properties and to constrain their evolutionary state. Methods. We use the line-blanketed non-local thermal equilibrium atmosphere code cmfgen to model the X-Shooter spectra of the WO stars and to deduce the atmospheric parameters. We calculate dedicated evolutionary models to determine the evolutionary state of the stars. Results. The WO stars have extremely high temperatures that range from 150 kK to 210 kK, and very low surface helium mass fractions that range from 44% down to 14%. Their properties can be reproduced by evolutionary models with helium zero-age main sequence masses of MHe,ini = 15−25 M⊙ that exhibit a fairly strong (a few times 10-5M⊙ yr-1), homogeneous (fc> 0.3) stellar wind. Conclusions. WO stars represent the final evolutionary stage of stars with estimated initial masses of Mini = 40−60 M⊙. They are post core-helium burning and predicted to explode as type Ic supernovae within a few thousand years.
ABSTRACT HESS J1943+213 is an unidentified TeV source that is likely a high-frequency-peaked BL Lac (HBL) object, but that is also compatible with a pulsar wind nebula (PWN) nature. Each of these ...enormously different astronomical interpretations is supported by some of the observed unusual characteristics. In order to finally classify and understand this object, we took a three-pronged approach, through time-domain, high angular resolution, and multi-frequency radio studies. First, our deep time-domain observations with the Arecibo telescope failed to uncover the putative pulsar powering the proposed PWN. We conclude with ∼70% certainty that HESS J1943+213 does not host a pulsar. Second, long-baseline interferometry of the source with e-MERLIN at 1.5 and 5 GHz shows only a core, that is, a point source at -100 mas resolution. Its 2013 flux density is about one-third lower than that detected in the 2011 observations with similar resolution. This radio variability of the core strengthens the HBL object hypothesis. Third, additional evidence against the PWN scenario comes from the radio spectrum we compiled. The extended structure follows a power-law behavior with spectral index while the core component displays a flat spectrum ( ). In contrast, the radio synchrotron emission of PWNe predicts a single power-law distribution. Overall, we rule out the PWN hypothesis and conclude that the source is a BL Lac object. The consistently high fraction (70%) of the flux density from the extended structure then leads us to conclude that HESS J1943+213 must be a non-classical HBL object.
Neutron stars that show X-ray and
γ
-ray pulsed emission must generate electron-positron pairs somewhere in the magnetosphere. Pairs like this are also required for radio emission, which poses the ...question why a number of these sources appear to be radio quiet. We carried out a deep radio search toward four such neutron stars that are isolated X-ray or
γ
-ray pulsars, but for which no radio pulsations have been detected so far. These sources are 1RXS J141256.0+792204 (Calvera), PSR J1958+2846, PSR J1932+1916, and SGR J1907+0919. A search at lower radio frequencies, where the radio beam is thought to be wider, increases the chances of detecting these sources compared to the earlier higher-frequency searches. We thus carried out a search for periodic and single-pulse radio emission with the LOFAR radio telescope at 150 MHz. We used the known periods and searched a wide range of dispersion measures because the distances are only poorly constrained. We did not detect pulsed emission from any of the four sources. However, we place highly constraining upper limits on the radio flux density at 150 MHz, of ≲1.4 mJy.
Context.
Repeating fast radio bursts (FRBs) present excellent opportunities to identify FRB progenitors and host environments as well as to decipher the underlying emission mechanism. Detailed ...studies of repeating FRBs might also hold clues as to the origin of FRBs as a population.
Aims.
We aim to detect bursts from the first two repeating FRBs, FRB 121102 (R1) and FRB 180814.J0422+73 (R2), and to characterise their repeat statistics. We also want to significantly improve the sky localisation of R2 and identify its host galaxy.
Methods.
We used the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope to conduct extensive follow-up of these two repeating FRBs. The new phased-array feed system, Apertif, allows one to cover the entire sky position uncertainty of R2 with fine spatial resolution in a single pointing. The data were searched for bursts around the known dispersion measures of the two sources. We characterise the energy distribution and the clustering of detected R1 bursts.
Results.
We detected 30 bursts from R1. The non-Poissonian nature is clearly evident from the burst arrival times, which is consistent with earlier claims. Our measurements indicate a dispersion measure (DM) of 563.5(2) pc cm
−3
, suggesting a significant increase in DM over the past few years. Assuming a constant position angle across the burst, we place an upper limit of 8% on the linear polarisation fraction for the brightest burst in our sample. We did not detect any bursts from R2.
Conclusions.
A single power-law might not fit the R1 burst energy distribution across the full energy range or widely separated detections. Our observations provide improved constraints on the clustering of R1 bursts. Our stringent upper limits on the linear polarisation fraction imply a significant depolarisation, either intrinsic to the emission mechanism or caused by the intervening medium at 1400 MHz, which is not observed at higher frequencies. The non-detection of any bursts from R2, despite nearly 300 h of observations, implies either a highly clustered nature of the bursts, a steep spectral index, or a combination of the two assuming that the source is still active. Another possibility is that R2 has turned off completely, either permanently or for an extended period of time.
Abstract
We report the detection of gamma-ray emission from pulsar wind nebula (PWN) Kes 75 and PSR J1846−0258. Through modeling the spectral energy distribution incorporating the new Fermi-LAT data, ...we find that the observed gamma-ray emission is likely a combination of both the PWN and pulsar magnetosphere. The spectral shape of this magnetospheric emission is similar to the
γ
-ray spectrum of rotation-powered pulsars detected by Fermi-LAT, and the results from our best-fit model suggest that the pulsar’s magnetospheric emission accounts for 1% of the current spin-down luminosity. Prior works attempted to characterize the properties of this system and found a low supernova (SN) explosion energy and low SN ejecta mass. We reanalyze the broadband emission incorporating the new Fermi emission and compare the implications of our results to prior reports. The best-fit gamma-ray emission model suggests a second very hot photon field possibly generated by the stellar wind of a Wolf–Rayet star embedded within the nebula, which supports the low ejecta mass found for the progenitor in prior reports and here in the scenario of binary mass transfer.
Abstract
The evolution of a pulsar wind nebula (PWN) depends on properties of the progenitor star, supernova, and surrounding environment. As some of these quantities are difficult to measure, ...reproducing the observed dynamical properties and spectral energy distribution (SED) with an evolutionary model is often the best approach to estimating their values. G21.5−0.9, powered by the pulsar J1833−1034, is a well observed PWN for which previous modeling efforts have struggled to reproduce the observed SED. In this study, we reanalyze archival infrared (IR; Herschel, Spitzer) and X-ray (Chandra, NuSTAR, Hitomi) observations. The similar morphology observed between IR line and continuum images of this source indicates that a significant portion of this emission is generated by surrounding dust and gas, and not synchrotron radiation from the PWN. Furthermore, we find that the broadband X-ray spectrum of this source is best described by a series of power laws fit over distinct energy bands. For all X-ray detectors, we find significant softening and decreasing unabsorbed flux in higher energy bands. Our model for the evolution of a PWN is able to reproduce the properties of this source when the supernova ejecta has a low initial kinetic energy
E
sn
≈ 1.2 × 10
50
erg and the spectrum of particles injected into the PWN at the termination shock is softer at low energies. Lastly, our hydrodynamical modeling of the supernova remnant can reproduce its morphology if there is a significant increase in the density of the ambient medium ∼1.8 pc north of the explosion center.
PDF
